When I was a child, my family lived in Geneva, Switzerland for a few years for my father’s job at DuPont. When I got older, my father told me that there were times that he was in meetings with people he had reason to believe were Nazis, which incensed him. He’d served in the U.S. Navy in WWII, so this must have added another layer of outrage for him.

I’m writing this today because I believe many people in business have shied away from expressing our views on politics and social issues publicly to avoid alienating people with whom we do business that might hold beliefs that differ from our own.

I feel as if recent events are compelling us to rip the tape from our mouths as we can no longer hold back. If I speak out on behalf of racial justice or any other cause that supports greater equality and respect for ALL people and it offends someone, I am not the trainer for them.

We each have to find our tribe. My tribe consists of people who love people and are anti-racist. Period. 

Lisa Elia, Media Trainer, Presentation Trainer, and Communication Expert, and Founder of Expert Media Training

About Lisa Elia

Lisa Elia is a leadership communication strategist who works with executives, founders, and expert teams to strengthen how ideas are communicated, understood, and acted upon inside organizations. Through her SpeakerShift Leadership Communication Accelerator and private advisory work, she helps leaders develop greater clarity, executive presence, and influence in high-stakes conversations—from leadership meetings and major presentations to investor discussions and critical organizational moments. Organizations also license her leadership communication programs to strengthen communication capabilities across their teams. Learn more at lisaelia.com.

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